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Poetry Manuscripts
Finding Aids for Manuscripts at Individual Repositories
Guide to the Walt Whitman Poetry Manuscripts in The Alice and Rollo G. Silver Collection, Department of Special Collections, Boston University
Original finding aid created by the Department of Special Collections, Boston University; revised and expanded by the Walt Whitman Archive and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. Encoded Archival Description completed through the assistance of the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, the University of Nebraska Research Council, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
This electronic finding aid was created from a finding aid created by the Department of Special Collections, Boston University, and obtained by the Walt Whitman Archive. The original papers and catalog records are held at Department of Special Collections, Boston University.
Title: Walt Whitman Poetry Manuscripts in The Alice and Rollo G. Silver Collection, Department of Special Collections, Boston University
Collection Number: N/A
Creator: Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892
Collector: Silver, Rollo G.
Repository: Department of Special Collections
Abstract:
This electronic finding aid was created from a finding aid created by the Department of Special Collections, Boston University, and obtained by the Walt Whitman Archive. The original papers and catalog records are held at Department of Special Collections, Boston University.
Scope and Content:
The Whitman collection of the larger Alice and Rollo G. Silver Collection is made up of first editions, collected editions, translations and reprints of the poet's own work, as well as contemporary works about him; many are inscribed or association copies. It also includes holograph letters and literary manuscripts, many photographs, engravings and memorabilia, and correspondence with Whitman's biographers and other collectors. Selected highlights include the first printing of Leaves of Grass (Brooklyn, 1855), the famous "Death Bed" edition of the same work (Philadelphia, 1891-92), and nearly all of the revised editions published in the thirty-six years between the two. Also present are the novel Franklin Evans (Whitman's first book), an unpublished manuscript version of
"Sail Out for Good, Eidólon Yacht!"
from Leaves of Grass, and books from Whitman's library.
Biographical Information:
For additional biographical information, see
"Walt Whitman," by Ed Folsom and Kenneth M. Price, and the
chronology of Whitman's Life.
Subjects: Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892;
Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892--Manuscripts;
Poets, American--19th century;
Series Description and Item Lists
Title: Whitman Manuscripts and Letters
Date: undated
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Poetry, prose, correspondence, and other manuscripts in Whitman's autograph.
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Item: 1 Box: 1 Whitman Archive ID: bos.00001 Title: "Old Age's Ship & Crafty Death's" Date: about 1890 Physical Description: 1 leaf, handwritten View Images: 1 | 2 Proof of "Old Age's Ship & Crafty Death's," first published in 1890, with corrections and annotations in Whitman's hand. |
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Item: 2 Box: 1 Whitman Archive ID: bos.00003 Title: "Sail out O mystic yacht" Date: about 1891 Physical Description: 1 leaf, handwritten View Images: 1 | 2 Heavily revised draft of "Sail Out for Good, Eidólon Yacht!" which was first published in Lippincott's Magazine in 1891 with "Sounds of the Winter," "The Unexpress'd," and "After the Argument" under the general title "Old-Age Echoes." The manuscript leaf is made from two scraps pasted together, one of them an envelope addressed to Whitman, bearing several postmarks from June 1890. |
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Item: 3 Box: 1 Whitman Archive ID: bos.00005 Title: "Notes for Lecture" Date: 1860-1869 Physical Description: 1 leaf, handwritten View Images: 1 | 2 Notes for an unidentified lecture in Whitman's hand. Edward Grier, an editor of Whitman's notes and notebooks, has titled this page "[—Was it Thought]," and he noted "the relationship between poetic and oratorical utterance is very close. Were it not for the stage directions one might take this as a poem sketch. The writing is hasty and rather large, but seems to be that of the 1860s" (Walt Whitman, Notebooks and Unpublished Prose Manuscripts, ed. Edward F. Grier [New York: New York University Press, 1984] 6: 2243). A note in another hand at the bottom margin reads "Notes for Lecture." |
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Item: 4 Box: 1 Whitman Archive ID: bos.00002 Title: "[I have had one feeling]" Date: undated Physical Description: 1 leaf, handwritten View Images: 1 | 2 Prose draft with note at the top: "(result of year in army hospitals." Edward Grier transcribes this manuscript under the title "[(Result of Year]" in Walt Whitman, Notebooks and Unpublished Prose Manuscripts [New York: New York University Press, 1984] 2: 675. |
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Item: 5 Box: 1 Title: Check Date: April 5, 1877 Physical Description: 1 leaf, handwritten Check to George W. Whitman, April 5, 1877 |
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Item: 6 Box: 1 Title: Letters and Envelopes Date: 1863-1891 Physical Description: Various letters and envelopes, 1863-1891 and undated. |
Title: Letter to Whitman
Date: 1888
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Unsigned postcard to Whitman (addressed to "Walt Whitman, the American Poet"), postmarked Paris, 1888 Series: C
Title: Whitman Related Items
Date: undated
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Various items relating to Whitman, including a wrapper for the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass, advertising proof, a congressional report, and correspondence of David McKay and Whitman's literary executors. Series: D
Title: Correspondence Relating to Whitman's Dismissal from the Interior Department
Date: June 3, 1902 and November 14, 1910
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Correspondence relating to Whitman's dismissal by Secretary Harlan from the Department of Interior. Series: E
Title: Advertisements and Announcements for Whitman's Books
Date: undated
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Various advertisements for Whitman's books, mostly for editions published after his death. Series: F
Title: Reviews of Books by Whitman
Date: undated
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Reviews of Whitman's books, including newspaper clippings of contemporary reviews and reviews of twentieth century editions. Series: G
Title: Pieces by Whitman
Date: undated
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Printed versions of various short pieces by Whitman, both poetry and prose. In this series are special printings of poems, clippings from newspaper publication of works, facsimiles, and tearsheets. Series: H
Title: Advertisements for Books About Whitman
Date: undated
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Advertisements for a variety of books about Whitman. Series: I
Title: Reviews of Books About Whitman
Date: undated
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Various reviews of books written about Whitman. Series: J
Title: Parodies of Whitman's Poems
Date: undated
Boxes: 1
Series Description: Four parodies of Whitman's poems. Series: K
Title: Whitman Drawings and Photographs: Framed Items
Date: undated
Boxes: 2
Series Description: Ten framed photographs and drawings of Whitman and Whitman-related subjects. Series: L
Title: Whitman Drawings, Photographs, and Pictures
Date: undated
Boxes: 2
Series Description: Various drawings, photographs, postcards, and reproductions of Whitman and Whitman-related subjects. Series: M
Title: Pieces About Whitman
Date: undated
Boxes: 3-4
Series Description: Several varied articles about Whitman or related to Whitman. Series: N
Title: Pieces About Whitman: Brief Mention or Entire Issue Devoted to Him
Date: undated
Boxes: 4
Series Description: Several pieces about Whitman. This series collects articles with brief mentions or entire issues of periodicals devoted to Whitman. Series: O
Title: "Sundry Letters Re: Walt Whitman's Anomaly"
Date: undated
Boxes: 4
Series Description: 52-page carbon typescript of "Sundry Letters Re: Walt Whitman's Anomaly," labelled "Paul Munter, Shorthand Reporter, 71 Broadway." Series: P
Title: Whitmaniana
Date: 1922-1926
Boxes: 5
Series Description: Collected by A. Faustini, this series contains four volumes of bound notebooks of clippings related to Whitman. Series: Q
Title: Bound Magazine Articles about Whitman
Date: 1887-1929
Boxes: 5
Series Description: Thirty-five articles about Whitman and his work, published between 1887 and 1929. Series: R
Title: Walt Whitman Foundation
Date: undated
Boxes: 6
Series Description: Items relating to the Walt Whitman Foundation, including the Foundation Bulletin, a brochure, and three announcement sheets for birthday celebrations sponsored by the Foundation. Series: S
Title: Walt Whitman Newsletter
Date: undated
Boxes: 6
Series Description: Copies and reprints of Walt Whitman Newsletter published by New York University Press and Wayne State University Press. Also included is an announcement of the change in publishers. Series: T
Title: The Long Islander
Date: June 2, 1955-June 3, 1965
Boxes: 6
Series Description: Reprints of articles and pages in The Long Islander, particularly the "Annual Walt Whitman Page" between July 2, 1959-June 3, 1965. Series: U
Title: Walt Whitman Society of America
Date: undated
Boxes: 6
Series Description: Items relating to the Walt Whitman Society of America, including membership solicitation materials, bulletins, a brochure, a news clipping, and a mimeographed letter. Series: V
Title: Walt Whitman Birthplace
Date: undated
Boxes: 6
Series Description: Items relating to the Walt Whitman Birthplace in Huntington Station, New York, including news clippings and materials of the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association. Series: W
Title: Walt Whitman's House on Mickle Street in Camden, New Jersey
Date: October 1, 1892
Boxes: 6
Series Description: Letter from Horace Traubel soliciting funds to purchase Whitman's house in Camden, New Jersey. Series: X
Title: Walt Whitman Fellowship
Date: undated
Boxes: 6
Series Description: Various items relating to the Walt Whitman Fellowship which formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the 1890s, including announcements, cards, papers, and articles. Series: Y
Title: Programs of Events at Which Walt Whitman was Honored or His Poems Used.
Date: undated
Boxes: 6
Series Description: Various programs from church, community, and university events that featured the work and life of Whitman. Series: Z
Title: Whitman Quotations on Greeting Cards
Date: undated
Boxes: 6
Series Description: Various Christmas cards with quotations by Whitman included. Series: AA
Title: Walt Whitman Hall of Fame Bust
Date: 1930-1931
Boxes: 6
Series Description: An article and program about a bust of Whitman. Series: BB
Title: Book and Manuscript Catalogues of Whitman Sales
Date: undated
Boxes: 7
Series Description: Various catalogues, news clippings, and tearsheets of sale catalogues regarding the sale of Whitman materials. Series: CC
Title: Material about Whitman Collections and Exhibits
Date: undated
Boxes: 8
Series Description: Books, news clippings, letters, articles, programs, invitations, brochures, and catalogues relating to various collections of Whitman materials in universities and libraries. Series: DD
Title: Memorabilia
Date: undated
Boxes: 8
Series Description: Towel, place mats, and stationery from the Walt Whitman Hotel in Camden, New Jersey. Series: EE
Title: Rollo Silver Exhibit
Date: 1970
Boxes: 8
Series Description: Announcement and poster for the Rollo Silver Walt Whitman Exhibit at Boston University in 1970. Series: FF
Title: Correspondence Related to Whitman
Date: undated
Boxes: 9
Series Description: Correspondence related to Whitman from book dealers, collectors, and researchers in the twentieth century. Series: GG
Title: Rollo G. Silver Manuscripts Relating to Walt Whitman
Date: undated
Boxes: 10
Series Description: Various manuscripts of Rollo G. Silver's reviews and articles related to Walt Whitman. Series: HH
Title: Printed Articles About Whitman by Rollo G. Silver
Date: 1935-1963
Boxes: 10
Series Description: Copies of Rollo G. Silver's articles and reviews related to Whitman. Series: II
Title: General Items Related to Rollo G. Silver's Research
Date: undated
Boxes: 10
Series Description: Index cards, a news clip, and a letter related to Rollo G. Silver's research.
Restrictions on Original Materials: Please consult with repository.
Preferred Citation: To identify this finding aid as a source, see the Archive's "Conditions of Use" page.
Repository Contact Information:
Department of Special Collections
Boston University
771 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215